Tag Archives: Yasuaki Honda

The latest issue (No. 44) of the excellent British rock magazine Vive Le Rock has Hanoi Rocks on the cover. In the article, the writer Joe Whyte calls All Those Wasted Years the book ”a gorgeous work of art as well as a document that details every nuance of a band that lived life like every minute was their last.”

The previous issue (No. 43, The Stranglers on the cover) had Whyte’s review of the book: ”With few punches pulled in the text, this is a stunning legacy of a band who birthed a million imitators.”

I’m pleased to let you know that All Those Wasted Years, the Hanoi Rocks book that I wrote, is now available in English. It is published today, November the 18th 2016, on Cleopatra Books.

I can’t even begin to explain how special this particular pile of paper is to me on both personal and professional level. So, I probably shouldn’t. But let me just say that writing it was a labor of love. Something I really needed to do. For myself, for the band, for the Hanoi fans. I started to work on it many years before I told anyone what I was up to. And then, when I felt ready, I e-mailed Michael Monroe, and things began to happen. My little personal project turned into this wonderful trip that I’ll cherish for the rest of my days.

And now, seven years after the Finnish version, All Those Wasted Years is finally out there for the whole world to read. It’s a story about determination and talent, bravery and tragedy, opposites that attract, subways and bullet trains, boulevards and back alleys, and the fire within.

It’s about a dream that wouldn’t die. It’s about Hanoi Rocks, the coolest band ever. I hope you’ll find All Those Wasted Years entertaining and inspiring. I hope it’ll open your eyes to see what a wonderful band Hanoi Rocks were, musically and spiritually.

The book comes with a 7″ single with two previously unreleased tracks. The vinyl is red, white, blue or green, and it comes in a cool cloth bag. There’s also a personal note from Mr. Monroe.

Excerpts from the book were used as the liner notes of Cleopatra’s new Hanoi Rocks cd and vinyl box sets, called Strange Boys Box. Now, that’s what I call a great book soundtrack!